Arch-support and ventilator for shoes.



J. BALL. ARCH SUPPORT AND VENTILATOR FOR SHOES.

APPLICATION FILED JULYZB, 1913.

Patented Apr. 7, 1914.

. t, i a i a PA @l.

JAMES BALL, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

ARCH-SUPPORT AND VENTILATOR FOR SHOES.

Specification of Letters Fatent.

Application filed July 28, 1913.

Patented Apr. a, 1914. Serial No. 781,469.

To allwhom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES BALL, a citizen ofthe United States, residing at Chicage, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Arch-Supports and Ventilators for Shoes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in arch support and ventilator for shoes, and one of the objects ofthe same is to provide an improved device of this class which will not only support the arch and ventilate I the shoe, but will prevent rotting of the heel stiffening or counter and the insole.

A further object is to provide an improved device of this class which may be readily applied in any shoe, and secured in position, and as readily removed.

To the attainment of these ends and the accomplishing of other new and useful ob jects as will appear, the invention consists in the features of novelty in substantially the construction, combination and arrangement of the several parts hereinafter more fully described and "claimed and shown in the accompanying drawing exemplifying the invention, and in which Figure 1 1s a view partly in elevation and partly in longitudinal section ofa shoe havmg a combined arch support and ventilator applied thereto, constructed in accordance with the principles of this invention. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the support and ventilator. Fig. 3 is a top plan view of one of the plates or,members. F ig. 4 is an enlarged detail sectional view similar to Fig. 1.

Referring more particularly to the drawings and in the present exemplification of this invention, the arch support and .ventilator embodies an upper member 10 and a lower member 11 which may be constructedof any desired or suitable material, but preferably of -metal. The plates are arranged one above the other, and the upperplate. is preferably ofaawidth somewhat greater than the width of the lower plate, the latter having portions deflected as at 12 to form spaced projections arranged adjacent the, edge of the plate. These projections engage the adjacent faceof the other plate or member and serve as a means for holding themembers spaced, while the spaces between the projections 12 formair passages communicating with the space between the plates. Obviously, these air pas- 1 sages may be formed in any other manner,

and the deflected portions may be continu- 011s, having apertures therethrough to form such air passages.

, In order to reinforce the member 11, a reinforcing. rib 14 is provided and this rib is formed in any suitable manner to extend longitudinally of and for substantially the length of the member 11. In the present form of the invention the rib is shown as being formed by deflecting a portion of the material forming themember.

The forward edge of the upper plate, as seen more clearly in Fig. 1, extends beyond the forward edge of the lower plate, for a purpose to be hereinafter set forth.

The members are secured together in any suitable manner such as by means of a fastenlng device 14: arranged preferably adjacent one end of the members, and one or more fastening devices 15, such as screws or the like, are also provided, which pass through the members and also into the heel 16 of the shoe, when the arch support and ventilator is in position in theshoe. These fastening devices 15, as will be seen, not only serve as a means for fastening the members together, but also serve to secure the device in the shoe and against displacement with respect thereto.

Obviously, a single fastening device 15 may be employed if desired, or an additional number may also be'employed.

The device thus constructed, is placed in the shoe adjacent the heel thereof and is of such a length that the forward extremity will project beyond the arch of the shoe, and terminate in the rear of the ball of the foot. The'forward extremity of the upward member being deflected downwardly, as before described, is ofsuch a length as to engage the insole'of the shoe, and if desired the uppermember may be provided with a cover 17 constructed of any suitable material, such as leather or the like. Theupper plate is of such'a width as to substantially fill the portion of the shoe into which it is inserted and the cover is of such'a length that it will extend beyond the forward extremity of the member 17 to form a flexible guard for the front edge thereof and thereby protect the foot of the wearer.

The upper member 10 is provided with a series of apertures 19 which register with corresponding apertures in the cover 17, and

as at 20 so that when the edges of the cover, which latter preferably project a slight distance beyond the corresponding edges of the upper member 10, stand adjacent the counter or stiffening in the heel of the shoe, air passages will be formed between the wall of the shoe and the edge of the upper member.

The member 11 is provided in its rear end with a recess 21 into which one extremity of a tubular element 22 projects, and which element extends through the cover or stiffening of the shoe, preferably adjacent the heel, and has communication with the outside air. This tubular member also has communication with the space between the members.

The tubular element also being set withinthe recess 21 serves as a means for holding the support and ventilator against lateral movement.

With this improved construction and when applied to a shoe, the wearers foot or rather the heel and arch of the foot, will rest upon the uppermost member, and during the walking operation, and the natural movement of the foot within the shoe, a constant circulation of air will be produced from the outside of the shoe through the tubular element .into the space between the members and from'this space through the apertures 19 and also through the air passages between the edges of the plates and around to the side of the foot through the notches 20 in the cover 17, thereby ventilating the shoe and prolonging the life of the shoe.

The flexible shield 18 serves as a means for preventing laceration of the foot by the forward edge of the member 16.

Obviously, the cover 17 may be omitted and in this instance, the forward edge of the member 10 will be shaped so as to always maintain a position in close proximity to the insole of the shoe.

While in the present form of the invention the preferred construction has been herein shown and described, it is to be understood that numerous changes may be made in the details of construction, and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts without departing from the spirit of this invention.

What is claimed as new is 1. A device of the class described, em bodying spaced members arranged one above the other, the upper member extending beyond the edges of the lower member, portions of one member being deflected to engage the other member for holding the members spaced, there being openings through the deflected portions communicating with the space between the members, and means securing the members together.

2. A device of the character described, embodying spaced members arranged one above the other, the upper member extend ing beyond the edges of the lower member,

embodying two members arranged one above the other, provisions for holding the members spaced and having an air passage there-.

through, means securing the members together, and a cover for the upper member, said cover being connected with the upper member and extending beyond the edges of said member, there being openings in the edges of the cover to form passages for air from the space between the members.

4. A device of the character described, embodying two members arranged one above the other, provisions for'holding the members spaced and having an air passage therethrough, means securing the members together, and a cover for the upper member, said cover being connected with the upper member and extending beyond the edges of said member, there being notches in the edges of the cover to form passages for air from the space between the members, a portion of the cover also extending beyond the forward edge of the adjacent member to form a flexible shield for such edge.

5. A device of the character described, embodying "two members arranged one above the other, provisions for holding the members spaced and having an air passage therethrough, means securing the members together, and a cover for the upper member, said cover being connected with the upper member and extending beyond the edges of said member, there being notches in the edges of the cover to form passages for air from the space between the members, the said cover and upper member being both provided with passages therethrough, within their edges, communicating with the space between the members.

6. The combination of a shoe, an arch support and ventilator removably secured therein, and embodying spaced plates arranged one above the other, portions of one plate being shaped to form spacing means for the plates, there being an passages be-- tween the edges of the plates communicating with the space between-the plates, and a tubular element extending through the counter orstiflening of the shoe, said element having communication with the outside air' and the space between theplates.

7. The combination of a shoe, an arch support and ,ventilator removably secured therein, and embodying spaced plates arranged one above the other, means for holding the plates spaced, there being air passages between the edges of the plates communicating with the space between the plates, and a tubular element extending through the counteror stifi'ening of the shoe, said element having communication with the outside air and the space between the plates, the upper plate having openings therethrough communicatingwith the space between the plates.

8. The combination of a shoe, an arch support and ventilator therein, the latter embodying spaced members, means for ho1ding the members spaced, means securing the members together, a tubular element ex tending through the shoe and having communication with the outside air and with the space between the members, and meansfor removably securing the support and ventilator in the shoe, one of the members,

' being provided with apertures communicating with the inside of the shoe and with the space between the -members, and. a flexible shield connected with the upper member and extending over the edge thereof.

9. The combination of a shoe, a com bined arch support and ventilator comprising spaced members secured together, means removably securing the parts within the shoe, one of the members being provided with a recess opening through one edge, and

of July, A. D. 1913.

a tubular element extending through a portion of the shoe and having communication with the outside air and with the space between the members, one extremity of the tubular element projecting ing communication .between the space betgeen the members and the inside) of the s oe.

10. A ventilator arch support embodying spaced members secured together and having spacing means to form a chamber therebetween there being passages between the edges 0% the members communicating with the chamber, the upper member being provided with openings therethrough communieating with the chamber, and a cover element connected with the upper member and having openings registering with the first recited openings, said cover element having a portion projecting beyond the edge of the upper member and provided with openings throughthe said projecting portion.

In testimoney whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in the resence of two subscribing witnesses, on thls 25th day JAMES BALL. Witnesses:

FRANK N. REED,

FLORENCE E. SCHULTZ.

into the recess vin the plate, there being air passages form- 

